Can we have a forum for "older" people with bc?
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Carol, Thanks for sharing. I enjoy the sisterhood from all over the country and a few overseas. We all have our differences, but the one commonality that brings us here.
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Wren: I wish that were a picture of my dog, but it is just a picture. I usually have cats, or flowers ( usually roses ) but sometimes even I get tired of them and want something else. I do have two dogs though. A miniature pincher, and a black lab retriever -- Mindy ( who becomes Minda with an emphasis on the da if she is being bad ) and Bill. Still too many cats, but most of them are older. They are generally quiet and generally not at all troublesome. It is those pesky little kittens we took in, but they will learn better manners in time. They are adorable which keeps us laughing most of the time.
We had planned to stop 'saving' so many and actually have but when we found the kittens we didn't have the heart to walk away. Our plan is still not to take anymore in and that is mainly due to our age. Cats, especially those kept indoors have a fair longevity and we want to outlive our pets. We have taken in way too many that were " dumped " somewhere because their owners died and the family didn't want the responsibility of the pet -- so they just left them at one of the feral cat colonies. You can always tell ( not that I wasn't familiar with all the feral cats anyway ) as a 'former' pet will usually run right up to you. Their former owners usually spent a lot of time with them and they are hungry for the same amt. of love and attention. Too often they are not neutered which makes being at the feral colony a little dicey at times -- if it is mating season there can be lots of fights. That is why so many came home with me. No one comes to my house and stays un-neutered, period.
Sorry !! As usual I don't know how to give short answers.
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IlinoisLady: Had to laugh at your phrase "No one comes to my house and stays un-neutered, period." Now, I know that it applies to your four legged visitors who become inhabitants but it struck my funny bone anyhow. I didn't think it applied to visitors, whew. Nice to know that someone else lives in a menagerie as we do with 3 cats (two older and one youngster), one aging dalmatian and 4 parakeets.
In the past, I have had two rescue cats make it to within one month of their 20th birthday and one was a diabetic male on insulin every 12 hours. Their birthdays were guesstimates of their age based on what the vet saw, so they may have actually been older, but not younger given the years they spent with us. Our last dog lived to be 15 years and two months so she actually lived with us for the full 15 years and one week. She was a large puppy and the vet breeder let us take her at 7 weeks because "mom" was getting testy about nursing her 3 pups. Dalmatians usually live about 12 years so for her to make 15 plus years was a testament to her breeding stock, not from a "puppy farm" (many in PA) but a reputable breeder who owned the mom and the dad was from her practice.
All in all, we sort of live in the peaceable kingdom since all get along. The birds fascinate the dog who will watch them and the cats do like to check them out but really don't bother them.
Then we have our outdoor pets, the 4-6 white tail deer who visit our bird feeder twice a day. One of the triplet fawns was limping today and that is concerning. It was a hind leg and appeared to be slightly twisted at the hoof. It was mobile just moving slow with a definite limp. No hunting in this area unless you consider speeding SUV's lethal weapons and they definitely contribute to road kill and herd thinning. The chipmunks must be hibernating because it has been a while since they were at the feeder. Winter birds are starting to move in to the area so new friends to see again. Have a good weekend.
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Betrayal: Ah, the joys of thinking what you want to say. I must say it went well, but it is obvious I did not read over what I had just written. My computer here has a pretty good spell-checker so I can just keep going ( without a re-read ) if no red pops up to make me stop. It is hilarious. Yeah, better watch out if ya'll come to my house. The vet in the back room will take care of you.
I just re-read what I wrote and not only did I make it sound like ANY visitor might get the " treatment " but I note it was basically the last thing I said. No way for it to be a couple of paragraphs up where you might forget it because you focused on something else.
NOTE TO ALL: I will not have you summarily " fixed " if you come to my house, okay.
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Petite, thanks for sharing your story.
Well, it's official--Bob won't be getting his vaccine from Little Co. of Mary either. The Chief of Staff sent non-OSF(Order of Sr. Francis)-employed doctors a very politely worded "f--- you" letter informing them that their Pfizer allocation will go to only ICU nurses, CNAs, resp. therapists and housekeepers in rooms occupied by COVID patients; and if there's any left over, to staff drs. employed by OSF specifically in the ICU & ED (they are too small to have a COVID unit per se). His rationale is that attending physicians don't spend long enough with COVID patients. (It's also a majority-minority suburb, and the CNAs & housekeepers live in close quarters in small dwellings, often multi-generational). Because it's a relatively small hospital in suburban Cook County, it has a pretty small slice of the county's allocation.
Holy Cross, which is w/in the city limits, also lacks a COVID unit, despite being a hotspot-in-a-hotspot. But it's owned by Mt. Sinai, which has made clear that its employed staff gets priority (ever since Mt. Sinai took HC over from the Order of the Sisters of St. Casimir, the remaining Lithuanian doctors all quit, and the Hindu & Muslim doctors boycotted all Mt. Sinai fundraising events--so there's a lot of animus running both ways. Mt. Sinai's slowly-gentrifying Douglass Park neighborhood--where the Dick Wolf "Chicago" shows film--is nowhere nearly as hard-hit as HC's formerly blue-collar Lithuanian but now impoverished and gang-ridden Marquette Park). So I'd be very surprised if anyone at HC gets vaccinated in the first "tranche" of Pfizer doses.
There is a slight chance that, as an adjunct of Rush-Pres-St. Luke's and UIC Health next door on the Near West Side, Union Health may get enough doses for its relatively few employed staff physicians--of whom Bob actually is one and therefore might be part of group 1A. But his part-time office secretary (who tested negative after her college-student daughter came home for T-day and tested positive but is now negative), who would be part of group 1B--she teaches special-ed at a Chicago public school--says she wants to wait for the Moderna vaccine because it's lmore "shelf-stable." So for all intents & purposes, both Bob & I are likely in group 1C--over 65 & or with an underlying condition (I touch both bases, he only one). We'd be unlikely to get even the second tranche of the city's Pfizer allocation (group 1B--teachers, factory workers, delivery persons, transit workers, first responders, grocery clerks, etc.--are all ahead of us). But we've got a good "shot" at getting the city's Moderna allocation. Gordy's GF Leslie, as a teacher (even online-only for now), is in group 1B even at age 30.
I can't talk the kids out of driving down to Texas--for a reason I'm not at liberty to disclose just yet. Gordy sent me photos of the property the family is renting--four separate cabins and a gazebo on two acres. All gatherings will be outdoors, masked and distanced.
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Imagine how our lives might be if everyone had even a bit more of the Wisdom that comes from seeing clearly. Suppose people everywhere, simultaneously, stopped what they were doing and paid attention for only as long as it took to recognize their shared humanity. Surely the heartbreak of the world's pain, visible to all, would convert everyone to kindness. What a gift that would be.
Sylvia Boorstein0 -
Sandy, sounds like once there your son and girl-friend could/would be all right. Sounds more like the getting there is the possible problem. I hope it does all go well for them as it is more and more becoming such an iffy, scary time going on. It is amazing that all was somewhat workable for a good period of time, but has now truly exploded into covid basically being everywhere.
As for as the vaccine or which one from which company -- since I am in the age group ( 75 and with health factors as well ) I will be awaiting word from the V.A. as to what to expect. I would expect that they would take care of the workers first -- in the VA hospitals and clinics but I don't even know if anything is yet decided about it. Probably has but just not made public as yet. I'll have to see if any guidelines are listed anywhere on that .Gov site.
Cloudy and cool today. Well, I can take the cool but I will miss the sun as always. Hoping you all have a wonderful day.
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Sandy, Do you know how the vaccine will be distributed? It sounded like Health care workers and then nursing homes, but I heard also the top government officials. I try not to listen to TV, so don't know what is or will actually happen.
Betrayal, I love the sound of the peaceful kingdom. My 2 cats will on occasion get along. I have not seen deer around the house for probably 6 years, but then we did have the bear last summer (I think it was summer.) I saw a beautiful big hawk today and lots of squirrels. We also get the big fox squirrels. I love them. The cayotes are scary. I would hate to sitting on the lanai and have them come through the screen and get one of the cats, or me.
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I hear stories of pets and coyotes here but have never known anyone who personally had trouble. My scariest adventure with them was walking about 10:00 pm with one of our small dogs. He and I always walked to the end of the cul-de-sac before I went to bed. We were about half way between the end of the street and our house when I saw at least seven crossing the street ahead of me. I picked up the dog, who had the good sense not to bark or growl, and just stood and watched them. None of them seemed the least bit interested in either of us. We see them now even the area is much more built up but I haven't felt afraid. I just wish they wouldn't leave their scat on the walking trails. Mutz has figured out that they aren't dogs he wants to go play with. On the other hand, we don't let him unsupervised outside the house either.
Nice weekend - the gifts for the foster girls were picked up, I dropped stuff off at the food bank, had dinner with our "bubble buddies" and the Cardinals finally won a game. Just finished "The Night Portrait". Good book if you like historical fiction. Goes back and forth between Milan (1490-1495) and Germany/Poland (1939-1946).
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We have coyotes even in the city--there's a "den" of them behind the neighborhood firehouse. None have attacked any pets (AFAIK). The rat population is down, but I'm seeing fewer rabbits, raccoons & possums these days.
Here in Chicago & the suburbs, the order of priority for at least the Pfizer vaccine is Group 1A: first "front-line healthcare workers" (as defined by the individual hospitals); then the staff and residents of senior "congregate care facilities." Apparently that even includes independent-living seniors-only apartment buildings (not just assisted living, convalescent/rehab, & skilled nursing homes). Group 1B: first the "first responders" (in order of priority, EMT/paramedics, firefighters, police); then "essential workers" (teachers, delivery persons including postal workers, supermarket, pharmacy & big-box-store checkers & stockers, public transit workers, workers in food plants and essential factories). Group 1C: first, those >65 with comorbidities, and then those >65 regardless of occupation or physical condition. That includes doctors >65 who do not routinely work closely with COVID patients (in reality, those doctors in private practice with no "strings" they can pull with the facilities where they practice). Group 2 includes prisoners/inmates (and guards), city workers (library, clerical, road/street maintenance, sanitation), workers at urgent care clinics, and non-ICU, non-COVID hospital in-patients.
And within the above groups, those living in hardest-hit neighborhoods (especially if their living conditions make social distancing impossible) will get priority. Can't speak as to city, county, or state gov't officials---I know WH staffers will get first crack in DC. (Even those who already caught COVID from you-know-who).
Here's what fries me, though: The City of Chicago has only 23,000 doses in this first shipment, for the entire city. But Rush-Pres.-St. Luke's is boasting (on every local news show) that it will be immunizing 1000 workers per day (!!!), and its next-door-neighbor Stroger (formerly Cook County) Hospital 600 per day. Now where does that leave all the other hospitals & clinics in the city, much less the nursing homes and assisted-living facilities? There are at least 400,000 health care workers in Chicago alone.
Unless Bob gets into Group 1A via (his "side hustle") being a cardiologist employed by Union Health, we're both in Group 1C--and that means we're highly unlikely to be offered the shot (at least Pfizer) till at least early spring. And it's not clear whether they'll look at my likely life expectancy with even not-yet-metastatic ocular melanoma and declare me not worth wasting a precious couple of doses upon. (Not even gonna speculate as to any already-Stage IV patients).
And to think that back last spring I feared that I would be triaged out of being able to get on a ventilator due to age. Triage is ugly, period.
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Sandy, It sure sounds complicated. I guess it will just be a wait and see what really happens. I wonder what will happen when the other companies roll out their vaccines. Maybe we might even be given a choice?
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We are given a life—a precious commodity—and are placed on this earth for a short while. We are surrounded by incredible beauty, strength, and love along with incredible violence, hatred, and prejudice. Every time a person becomes happier, they are moving one step away from prejudice and violence and closer to love and compassion. So think of your personal joy as a contribution to peace on the planet as well as food for your spirit. -Charlotte Davis Kasl
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Sunny today ( maybe snow tomorrow ) but it is pretty anyway. Not looking forward to snow but if it came it likely wouldn't be all that much. Maybe an inch. Oh, I hope I'm right about that.
Still helping out ( she does pay me ) my friend who had the hip replacement. I think she would do a lot more, but one therapist got a bit rough and now she has a 'strained' muscle in the new hip leg and that is casing her a lot of distress.
Life though after all is good.
I hope you all have a realy nice day.
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Have not visited for awhile, so it was interesting reading through postings. We figure that although we are both > 65, will be awhile before COVID vaccines are made available to us. I have co-morbidities but not my husband, even though he is 73 vs my 66. Kroger in our area is now offering rapid antibody tests @ $25. Not interested in these, at this point.
Hope all who are celebrating Hanukkah are enjoying their holidays!
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Betrayal - I had a Dalmatian for 11 years before he passed. He was a love bug.
Covid vaccine - if I'm in FL they won't give it to me. If I stay in NY, I probably won't get one until summer, late spring at earliest. Out of my control. I think more companies producing a vaccine will be available by time I'm eligible - Johnson & Johnson, and Astra Zeneca.
I'm not sure I've mentioned here, we're staying in NY thru 1/30 or 31. Too risky with COVID to travel, plus 2nd semester for grand niece ends 1/29. I can relax now, no super rush to take down Christmas decorations, pack and run. Little Christmas is back on the books for me. But since I put things up early this year I'll be dusting ornanents!
Our local Police Athletic League, working with many local companies, puts on a Christmas Lights in the Park - drive thru event. This is the first time I've gone, tonight w niece & her daughter. It was beautiful! Weather was good, little snow this afternoon but it didn't stick.
Plumber here tomorrow, still visiting me months after initial repair. Installing a second vent to stop the gurgling in other drains when the toilet is flushed. May the force be with me!
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Based on IL rules, I'd be in 1B, but I think here in CO, I'm in 1C or however they are numbering it - the way DH and I look at it, it will be at least April till we get it - We both have underlying health conditions, I'm a School Psychologist (so essential worker), and I make the 65 cut off in May - DH turned 65 in October (yes, we're just babies!). At times, with all the aches and pains I don't feel so young and other times, I wonder how I could be 64 1/2! I guess it's cuz I have a 22 year old and most of her friends parents are a good 10-15 years younger than us. She is the youngest and some of her friends are the oldest, and even if they're not, the youngest, their parents started having children much younger than we did.
With the vaccine starting to roll out, I sure hope people don't get even more careless!! One of the local doctors (cardiologist) who is the resident doctor for the local NBC news station, said she things we'll be wearing masks for another year!. I'm okay with that as long as it keeps me safe and healthy. What I miss is seeing my children. I can tell my youngest is feeling homesick. She is hoping to come back to the states for Passover which is the end of March - but that depends on lots of variables relative to Covid. I've missed 2 trips to Israel this year (summer and winter vacation which is at the end of this week). She hasn't been here since 9/11/19 - only reason I remember the date is because it's 9/11.
Everyone stay safe and stay healthy. Sandy, I hope Bob gets in one of the earlier groups.
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I agree, Karen. I miss "the kid." Hopefully by summer we can get together. At that point, we should all be vaccinated. If Sandy's description is followed here - and who knows what they are thinking in a state with no statewide mandate and little enforcement of the county one - Debbie would be IB and Ken and I 1C. I think the categories will get "squishier" as we go along. I'm OK being 1C or even 2A but I hate to see all those folks running around Target or the WH or Congress without a mask getting the poke before I do.
We had a couple of nice trips planned for 2020 but aren't making any plans for 2021 yet. Our friends rebooked one of them for Nov 2022 but we just couldn't look that far ahead.
Loved the quote for today!
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CindyNY: Our current dalmatian is number 4 for us. We like their quirkiness and the only male we had was the first. He was an escape artist and to catch him you had to lie down, play dead and wait for him to check you out. He loved my daughter when she was born and protected her from even my neighbors. He never bit anyone but if she was in the yard, you didn't dare reach over our fence because the teeth were bared and the growls intimidating. He was also the only counter surfer we have ever had.
The other 3 have been females and when we moved here the yard was unfenced. None of them would ever leave our unfenced yard so even though we have a long lead, seldom have we used it There is a large rock protruding from the hill in our backyard and they all have sat on that to survey their "property". So we have a 45 year history with dalmatians.
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I have no clue when dh and I will be eligible for the vaccine. I just saw on Facebook that some veterans in a retirement home were among the first to get vaccinated here in Louisiana. My right wing family members are busy watching anti-vaccine "wisdom" on UTube. Funny (strange) how selective bias will influence people to believe what they're inclined to believe.
DH picked up his CPAP machine yesterday at the sleep clinic and wore the mask last night. I was hoping for a miraculous success but no luck. He found the mask uncomfortable and did not have a good night's sleep. He isn't discouraged and will give this head gear another few nights. Other people with sleep apnea have told us that they tried several masks before finding one that worked best for them.
Happy Tuesday to all.
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Good morning. 59 degrees and pleasant. The local Spectrum news published the vaccine roll out list. Tampa General was the first and an RN received the first dose. Not sure when we will be getting it.
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Mindfulness is being aware of yourself, others, and your surroundings in the moment. When consciously and kindly focusing awareness on life as it unfolds minute by precious minute, you are better able to savor each experience. Also, being closely attentive gives you the opportunity to change unwise or painful feelings and responses quickly. In fact, being truly present in a mindful way is an excellent stress reducer and, because of that, can be seen as consciousness conditioning, a strengthening workout for body, mind, heart, and spirit. -Sue Patton Thoele
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I'm late again today. I too have no real idea just when we will be offered the vaccine or even which one it will turn out to be. I didn't get on the .GOV website yet and actually since there are a number of possible vaccines -- we may be waiting a bit. I do think at one point ( LA seems to be adhering to it ) it was said the very vulnerable ( nursing homes/congregate living etc. ) should be first after first responders. I'm concerned as it does seem our area is seeing a lot more than I hopes fall ill. I do not mind so much waiting though since I think we are somewhat safer here. I would feel a bit better though if more people would wear masks. I feel concern that if they don't mask -- maybe they don't bother with many of the other things -- like hand sanitizer etc.
Carole, I think I saw a C-PAP advertised that was quite small, but honestly I know nothing about them. Just seemed to me that anything less intrusive to wear would possibly be better, but likely others you've talked too were right. As in so many other things -- one size won't be everyone's answer.
My first chemo went okay. Done for a week now. I do find it a bit troublesome in that laying on my left side ( broken arm side ) is uncomfortable as is laying on my stomach. I generally do not lay on my stomach ever -- but I only have to do it twice each session so I'll get by. The nurses were really nice there. My urologist gave me all sort of directions about not having anything to drink after midnight -- no coffee for a couple of days previous to the infusion. I asked today since I had a slight headache ( I think from doing w/o liquids ) what was allowable. The nurses said to do what was comfortable for me and that meant water, coffee, food. It was okay with them. So, the point is that I need ( if possible ) to be able to do the 8 rotations ( taking 2 hrs. ) and not need to go to the bathroom if possible for the two hours, as that is how the chemo medicine is eliminated from the bladder. I did fine today, but well -- that was almost a given. I guess I will at least have coffee ( 1 cup ) before I go. I will have to remember to dress warm and take warm socks. I am allowed to leave my clothes on. A catheter is used to put in long enough to put in the chemo and then taken back out, so other than that -- I'm just laying in a bed. Someone has a timer and comes and tells me it is time to turn.
Hope you all had a most wonderful day.
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Glad that your first treatment is over and the countdown has begun for you. Hope the rest go as well and that you can find a comfortable position.
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IllinoisLady - glad your treatment went well. Count down the treatments, get this behind you. It sounds like you've got a good team.
Betrayal - our Dalmatian was possessive too. Three times come to mind. One time workers installing a bay window, one guy came inside and my dog backed him into a chair growling. Other workers had to come looking for him. Another time my BIL let him in his truck, he then growled at anyone going near the ("his") truck. Lastly, a pipe leak was bad while we were on vacation, came home to a foot of water in the basement. Volunteer firefighters came to pump it out. The dog wouldn't let them back up the basement stairs. A loyal and possessive buddy.
Weather is calling for 10-15" of snow Wednesday night into Thursday. Some channels said 6-10, earlier 3 -6. So our estimate is 3 to infinity! House is ready with shovels and ice melt. Roof rake will come out tomorrow. But I'm not mentally ready. Oh my, I'll have to crank up the Christmas music.
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Illinois lady glad your first chemo is over. Hope it continues to be mostly uneventful.
Expecting "some" snow here. Never quite sure what we'll get as we are on the edge of "northern" in the county in our state. Stay well and warm to those expecting a weather 'event.'
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IllinoisLady, I am glad the first chemo went well. I hope you were able to get comfortable and get some rest.
It is nice this morning, but storms expected this afternoon.
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In learning to embrace your being, don't look at your mistakes. It is a given that we will all make some mistakes in life. It is a given that you will make inappropriate choices for inappropriate reasons. They will in no way affect your worth. No matter what you say or do, nothing can minimize the worth of your being. Your worth is a gift from God. Your worth is a gift of grace. -Iyanla Vanzant
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Ah, well. Snowing outside this morning. It is big wet flakes that will not stick on the car so I'll be ready to go in a bit to feed my feral cat colony. I'll hunt up a broom to take along to sweep away the snow so the cats can end w/o the snow turning the food to mush too soon.
It is very pretty but it will warm enough when it stops to likely help it melt rather well. I have more concern for the evening hours for what may be left around of moisture. That could be slick -- although I think this is just more of a 'teaser' right now. These are the kinds of snows I actually enjoy. It is postcard snow.
I will also go out and do my friend's outdoor feedings of her cats. She certainly shouldn't even think of going outdoors today and she won't. She does have daughters ( though they work ) who can bring her anything she might need -- so she can stay cozy inside.
I hope you all have a really good day.
p.s. I'm feeling just fine now. After food and coffee yesterday ( around noon ) my slight headache cleared quite well and I napped for about 15 mins -- enough to get me a real refreshed feeling. I'm normally not much of a 'napper', so that really got me going.
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Hoping the chemo leads to more good health for you, Jackie. One big plus is that you have good medical care. I liked your quote about mindfulness. That's always a goal in many aspects of life, including eating.
My weight keeps going up. I have to stop the upward movement and lose some bulk. It's more challenging during the winter when comfort food is so enticing.
DH slept better last night with his CPAP but he took it off at 3 am which led to some disturbance for me with his snoring. I do love sleeping in the winter when it's cold. We usually open a window in the bedroom. The cover feels so snug and comforting.
This afternoon I have an appointment at the dermatologist for a blue light treatment on my face. The whole procedure, including the 2 hour wait, will take 2 1/2 hours or so. I have to avoid sunlight for a couple of days and result will be similar to a sunburn. The skin will peel off. The purpose is to destroy precancerous growths.
Happy Wednesday.
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Good morning, ladies. My family members in Pinellas County were spared any damage from the tornado that went through yesterday afternoon. I am thankful.
Any problems with the storms in the Northeast for any of you?
IllinoisLady, I glad you are doing better.
Carol, Sounds like the C-pap works, when worn. I wish DH would have a sleep study and get one. He probably says the same about me.
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